Greetings,
I've talked about this before, but I feel it needs to be brought up again today. I'm amazed that Stephen King actually wrote a book called On Writing which gives people lots of good advice on how to become a writer, even encouraging and inspiring them. Why am I amazed by this? Because so many of his fiction books would make one think that being a writer is the worst choice they can make. They're always either going crazy or getting abducted or both or worse. And sometimes they have an evil twin that they didn't even know about until it's too late. Such is the case with the movie I'll be reviewing today, The Dark Half.
The Dark Half is a 1993 film based on the Stephen King book of the same name. And no, I have not read it yet, but it is on my bookshelf waiting. Anyway, it stars one of my favorite actors, Timothy Hutton, as our protagonist, Thad Beaumont. And may I be shallow for a moment and say that he is super hot in this movie. Well, half the time. Anyway, Thad is a writer, who began as a child, despite having some unusual health problems. Health problems that, by the way, give us a fantastic scene that I cannot decide whether it is terrifying or hilarious. I guess it depends on the person. So, Thad becomes a successful writer as an adult and as himself, mostly critically speaking, but only by using a nom de plume, George Stark, does he achieve his most commercial success. This other persona has given him the freedom to write about things that he otherwise would not have.
After a con man, played by Robert Joy, threatens to tell the world who he is, Thad and his wife, Liz, played by Amy Madigan, decide to beat him to the punch by telling the world themselves. Not only telling the world, but acting as though George Stark is dead, as Thad won't be writing as him anymore. And they go all out with this, doing an interview about it and literally burying George Stark in a plot. Morbid much. But, hey, that's what sells, at least in the world of this story. And that world is Maine, of course. Where else? Anyway, this is where things gets interesting.
Somehow, I think through the help of...evil birds(?), the imaginary George Stark comes to life. And in real life is exactly where he wants to stay. Now I should say that, in case you haven't guessed, Timothy Hutton also plays Stark. It really shows how amazing he is as an actor, as these two characters are pretty much polar opposites, and he plays them both very convincingly. So, as George Stark goes on a crazed rampage, Thad ends up being the number one suspect in all of the crimes. As expected. He is forced to try and convince his accusers of this insane idea, while also trying to find a way to defeat his evil alter ego and protect those he loves, most of all his wife and two babies. Two babies who give some of the best reaction shots I've ever seen in film.
Now I know I've mentioned a few of the actors already, but this film really has even more of a stellar cast. We get Michael Rooker, Rutanya Alda, Tom Mardirosian, Beth Grant and the late, great Julie Harris, who I'm pretty sure knows a thing or two about being in a scary movie. Again, I apologize, dearest Julie, for that remake of The Haunting. Anyway, everyone in this movie, from big parts to small, are kind of perfect.
So, I suppose I will recommend this, but only if you can deal with the creepy stuff. I know it's Mr. King's lot in life to give people nightmares, however, it is not mine. I'm not even normally into scary movies. I'm more of a psychological thriller kind of girl. But something like The Dark Half, which does have some gore but is also smartly written, I can handle. And I'll watch anything with Timothy Hutton in it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
